Mahalo to dog's rescuers in yellow

At about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, I was driving through Waimanalo on the way to an appointment. Just before the fire station, I spotted a fireman in his yellow jacket walking back to the station from about 20 yards away carrying a dog. I could see the dog's legs dangling from under his left arm.

I felt sad because I assumed the dog was dead. In front of this fireman was another carrying what looked like medical supplies.

As I passed, I could see the dog's head up and eyes open. I assume he was injured and the firemen had come to its aid.

What impressed me was how carefully the fireman cradled the dog and that he was taking it back to the station.

It really warmed my heart to see the time and care given to one of God's creatures and reassured me that we have good people with the Honolulu Fire Department. If they can take care of an animal like this, imagine the effort put into caring for humans. Mahalo!

Women must be able to protect themselves

It was so refreshing to read Vernon Okamura's Gathering Place column ("Women deserve safety of concealed-carry law," Star-Bulletin, Feb. 9). As a former holder of a concealed weapons license in Florida, and a woman, I know how good it feels to be able to defend oneself.

As I had not been in the military I had to take a course to get my license. This course was taught by a retired policeman and was time well spent. As I had grown up with rifles and pistols, I knew how to shoot. The psychological training was the part most useful to me. We were told exactly what to say and do when threatened. This included retreating and a verbal warning, but if all else failed, shooting rather than becoming a victim.

Regarding the Kahuku farmer who shot a man he believed was stealing his crops (Star-Bulletin, Sept. 10, 2004), I've read that his culture was to blame for his actions. That "foreign" culture was the same as America's "culture" until the political left blamed guns instead of criminals for crime. The right to protect oneself and one's property had been the norm in our country. Now women are fearful, even in their homes, and our much-needed farmers are ruined. Law enforcement cannot be everywhere all the time.

A right-to-carry law would give notice to criminals that they can't count on a victim being helpless anymore in the state of Hawaii.

Dems can do better than candidate Iwase

In 1987, City Councilman Randy Iwase voted for a luxury housing development near Sandy Beach. Voters rejected Iwase's vision by a two-to-one margin in the Sandy Beach Initiative, voting instead to preserve coastal open space.

In 1994, state Senator Iwase unsuccessfully pushed for a measure that would have destroyed wildlife habitat in Keehi Lagoon.

In 1997, Iwase introduced Senate Bill 8, a bill to strip Hawaiians of their traditional gathering rights. Thousands of Hawaiians showed up at the state Capitol to protest the senator's attempt to overturn the Supreme Court's PASH decision. Iwase was forced to back down.

In 1998, Senator Iwase proposed opening the floodgates to development on more than 700,000 acres of open space. Thankfully, his effort failed -- again.

Iwase's failed legacy is best left to the trash bin of the last century. Democrats can do much better in a gubernatorial candidate.

We depend on oil to bring our food

I am all for renewable energy -- windmills, wave energy, geothermal, solar panels, deep sea AC -- let's use all of them. It just makes sense.

But let's also be honest: These methods of generating electricity are not why we (in Hawaii) are oil dependent. They won't free us from our "addiction."

Here's a question: What would happen if the boats stopped coming in to Honolulu Harbor? How long would we survive? Two weeks? Three?

The reason we are dependent on oil is that we ship in most of our food. Without oil we would starve, no matter how many hybrids, solar panels or windmills we have (again, I fully support renewable energy).

As long as land that has been designated as agricultural zoning is allowed to be developed and replaced with timeshares, we will always be dependent on oil.

Don't name buildings after individuals

So Mayor Hannemann wants to name a building after former Mayor Frank Fasi (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 9). I wonder if he's chosen the building he'd like named after himself.

I don't think we should be naming buildings, parks, highways and so forth after any one individual who was paid to do a job. I support naming these public places after volunteers who "made it happen." Or, not naming them after people at all. I like the sound of Waipahu District Park or Lower Waipahu District Park or Makiki Library or Hawaii Kai Municipal Building.

Term limits recall meaning of 'service'

Term limits for City Council members are an excellent idea (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 6). If two terms is a problem due to reapportionment, then the solution is to continue the staggered election of City Council members, but the term limit is one term.

This country was founded upon serving the public good by citizens, not professional politicians. If a politician performs exceptional service in a particular position then the public will recognize it and select that individual for a position of higher responsibility.

Waste Management has high standards

Regarding "Problems at landfill must be fixed" (Editorial, Star-Bulletin, Feb. 4): We agree with the Star-Bulletin that the issues raised by the Department of Health at the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill are important. As the DOH has publicly stated, nearly all of the problems have been corrected. Waste Management has implemented a number of procedures and management changes to ensure similar problems do not arise again. We are confident these changes and Waste Management's prompt attention will help restore the trust of the City and County of Honolulu, the DOH, and our customers and neighbors.

For nearly two decades, Waste Management of Hawaii has been a proud partner with Honolulu in providing safe, reliable and efficient waste disposal services at Waimanalo Gulch. The issues raised by DOH do not reflect the good environmental record at the site or the high standards Waste Management expects at all of its operations.

We regret any concerns that these issues might have created for the residents and businesses of Oahu.

Many activities thrive at Kailua Beach

Far from being the site of conflict, confusion, blight and chaos, Kailua Beach Park offers a safe and healthy venue for water sports, family gatherings, group reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, weddings and meetings of all types. The park bristles with activity, especially on weekends. Park rules restrict beach access for kitesurfing, windsurfing and kayaking to a 50-yard section of shoreline at the north end of the park, leaving the other 95 percent of park shoreline for swimmers and other beachgoers. Rules are enforced for the safety of all.

No one disputes the growing demand for park recreation at Kailua. To suggest that this demand leads to user conflict, blighted grounds and facilities, confusion and chaos of abandoned cars and sprawling homeless camps is negative and wrong (Letters, Feb. 7). Teams of community volunteers and park maintenance staff keep park grounds groomed seven days a week. Local police enforce nightly parking restrictions. Commercial activities do not intrude on personal enjoyment of park facilities.

Naysayers may seek "local justice" elsewhere, but for me, Kailua Beach Park is my chunk of heaven.

Are bicycle laws only for the rest of us?

The other day on Fort Street Mall, I saw someone riding their bicycle past sleeping bums and Hawaii Pacific University students.

This is a rarity, as I guess it is illegal to do so. I say guess, because the only time I've ventured to ride my bicycle on the mall I've been greeted by heckles and threats of tickets from the security guards. Until that day, I thought it was that way for the safety of everyone, because obviously riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is one of the most dangerous things anyone can do.

But I guess it's become a little safer, since now private security guards and cops can do it.

Now I'm wondering, why can they do it, while I cannot? What sort of training do these people go through -- especially the private security guards -- that allows them to do what is otherwise so dangerous it demands a $97 fine if anyone else does it?

If a private security guard can do it, then what prevents the city from allowing me to do it?